Just before 10:00 a.m., emergency responders headed to the 8820 block of Northlake Blvd west of the Bee Line Highway after a John Deere Bush Hog lawnmower was involved in an accident with a motor vehicle. According to CBS12, firefighters were forced to close the eastbound roadways for close to two hours to clean up the mess and to clear out some hydraulic fluid that leaked from the tractor. One of the victims in the accident was taken to Palm Beach Medical Center and treated for various injuries.
Our Palm Beach personal injury attorneys understand that lawn mower accidents are unfortunately not uncommon here in the Sunshine State. While many of us see mowing the lawn as just another house chore, we too often overlook the dangers that are involved in this everyday activity.
Remember the little Palm Harbor girl who lost her feet back in April because of a lawn mower accident? Her father accidentally backed over her while he was moving the lawn. According to the Huffington Post, doctors were recently able to attach prostheses to her legs. Experts at Prosthetic and Orthotic Associates had warned that the girl, like most toddler patients, might be unwilling to walk with her new legs and feet.
Lawn mower accidents cause some serious injuries to fingers, arms, legs, feet and other body parts. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), more than 200,000 people – around 16,000 of them under age 19 – were treated for lawn mower-related injuries in 2007. More than 600 children are forced to undergo amputations each year as the result of lawn mower-related injuries. For children under age 10, major limb loss is most commonly caused by lawn mowers.
But there are many other risks involved with riding a lawn mower than the dangers that lurk in your yard. Believe it or not, but each and every year there are people killed while riding a lawn mower on the road. Remember the accident in Waushara County (Wisconsin) back in July that took the life of an 81-year-old? The man was riding his lawn mower in the road when he was hit by an SUV.
When riding a lawn mower, many of these risks and accidents can be avoided by a little common sense and a few safety tips. Before heading out to mow, read and review the following safety tips to help to ensure that you complete you day of lawn chores safely:
-Make sure you know how to properly operate your mower. One of the best things you can learn is how to stop it quickly.
-Never leave a lawn mower unattended.
-Do not ride a lawn mower on the road.
-Never reach underneath a lawn mower.
-Be sure to disconnect the spark plug or unplug an electric mower before cleaning or sharpening.
-Never refuel the mower when the engine is running.
-Keep people away from your mowing area. Mowers can throw objects in virtually any direction.
-Make sure you’re wearing the proper safety equipment, including eye protection, earplugs, closed footwear and tight-fitting clothing.
-Avoid mowing surfaces that are slick or slippery.
-Keep hands and feet away from the blades at all times.
-Always turn off the mower and wait for the blades to stop completely before removing the grass catcher, unclogging the discharge chute, inspecting or repairing lawn mower equipment or crossing gravel paths, roads, or other areas.
-Always pay attention while tending to this chore.
“Most lawn mower injuries occur when the operator is distracted momentarily and injuries can range from finger tips to entire hands and feet,” said American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery (ASRM) President Michael Neumeister, MD.
If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident, call Freeman Injury Law at 1-800-561-7777 for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights.
More Blog Entries:
Activity Jumpers Pose Risks to Children in South Florida, South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog, August 4, 2013
Florida Traffic Safety: Fatal Accidents More Likely in Rural Areas, South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog, August 1, 2013